VAMC buys $1.12 billion bad debts this year

 The Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC) bought more than VNĐ25.53 trillion (US$1.12 billion) of non-performing loans (NPLs) from 14 credit institutions.

Saigontourist, VNPT cooperate to build smart travel solutions

 Saigontourist Holding Company (Saigontourist) and the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) on Tuesday signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly build smart travel solutions.

Planning Law, if approved, will help ease overlap: lawmakers

 The Planning Law, if approved, will help remove planning overlap and reduce wastefulness, almost all lawmakers agreed.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 25/10

Vietnamese businesses equipped with IP right protection abroad, Vietnam’s beer products introduced at New Zealand expo, VFA hikes rice export target on strong demand, Upgrade plan for Dien Bien airport announced

Four Vietnamese arrested for robbing foreigners

 VietNamNet Bridge – Police in southern Can Tho City on Tuesday announced the arrest of four suspects involved in a robbery in the middle of this month.

Social News 25/10

Tests confirm Nghe An stations selling diluted gasoline, MBI announces smart city innovation challenge Vietnam finalists, Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line moves to new stage, 

More international air routes to be launched to Phu Quoc Island

 Phu Quoc International Airport will launch several new international air routes in the coming months which aims to attract more visitors to the southern island.

Coast guards tasked to prevent illegal fishing

 The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers has worked with coast guards to stop illegal fishing activities by Vietnamese fishermen in other countries after the EU issued a yellow card warning to Vietnam.   

10 potential contestants at Miss Grand final

Following is the list of 10 potential contestants including Vietnamese representative Huyen My in the final of Miss Grand 2017 beauty pageant taking place in Phu Quoc, Kien Giang province on October 25.

HCM City promotes medical tourism

Nguyen M., a 61 year-old overseas Vietnamese from Sweden, typically received treatment for his heart disease in Europe. But on a recent trip to Viet Nam, persuaded by the qualifications of Vietnamese doctors

First tracks laid on HCM City metro

 VietNamNet Bridge – The first set of rail tracks and sleepers were installed yesterday on the above-ground stretch of HCM City’s first metro line from Ben Thanh Market to Suoi Tien Theme Park.

Vietnam to compete at world youth chess event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will send eight players to compete at the World Youth U14, U16, U18 Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2017 to be held in Greece on October 27.

Tourism agencies see hot growth of Chinese and Korean markets

VietNamNet Bridge - The tourism sector’s target of receiving 13 million foreign travelers in 2017 is within reach as more Chinese and South Korean visitors are coming to Vietnam.


Parents worried about pesticide-laden veggies

Parents in the capital city are worried about their children’s health after plant protection residues were found in vegetable samples at the Hoang Liet Kindergarten in Hoang Mai District last week.

Thor finds his funny side as apocalypse nears in 'Ragnarok'

The end of the world is nigh, and Marvel’s brawny superhero Thor finds himself hammerless and held hostage on a kitsch futuristic planet light years away from his home, in a sequel that revamps the slightly dim

Operators of local tours likely forced to place higher deposits at banks

 Travel companies may be required to deposit VND850 million at commercial banks if they organize local, inbound and outbound tours, according to a draft Government decree which guides the execution of the 2017 Tourism Law.

Titanium mining puts environment at stake

 Titanium mining and processing projects in central coast provinces have left negative impact on other economic sectors and put the environment at risk of severe pollution.

Toyota: Committed to hydrogen cars despite potential 'game changer' EV battery

Toyota Motor Corp said its solid-state battery technology under development could be a “game changer” for electric vehicles, but that does not mean it is moving away from hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles.

Amazon launches cash payments in Mexico to lure shoppers online

Amazon.com Inc  launched a cash payment service in Mexico on Tuesday, aiming to expand its customer base in a country where shoppers are wary of credit card fraud and often earn their living in paper currency.

Experts object to fees on cars entering downtown

 Experts and car owners have objected to a long-planned yet highly controversial scheme to impose a fee on cars entering HCMC’s central business district. 

No extra funding to save loss-making projects

 The Government will no longer inject more capital into State-funded investment projects that have racked up huge losses, according to a report Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has sent to the National Assembly.

Vietnamese French musician Tri Nguyen to take HCM City stage

 Vietnamese-French pianist and zither artist Tri Nguyen will give a performance at the theater of the Voice of HCM City's People (VOH) radio station on October 27.

Taxing times

Moves by taxation authorities to increase several taxes and in turn increase the State budget must be carefully implemented to ensure the health of Vietnam’s economy and its business community.

Universities continue to gain autonomy

 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam emphasised that Vietnam will continue to give autonomy to public universities after the pilot project on the autonomy of universities is completed in the next two months.

Deputies push for stronger forest protection

National Assembly deputies urged the Government to continue to clamp down on illegal deforestation during a discussion on the country’s draft revision to the Law on Forest Protection and Development